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Encouraging Write-In Foe A Win-Win For Ambler

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By WILLIAM MARCH

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 31, 2008

TAMPA - Politicians don't normally encourage opponents to run against them.

But in the case of state Rep. Kevin Ambler, encouraging a young family friend of his to run against him as a write-in candidate could end up helping him.

Stranger still, the election in which it could help Ambler isn't this year, when he's seeking his fourth state House term. It's a state Senate race that will be on the ballot in 2010.

Ambler, a Lutz Republican, has filed as a candidate in both races at the same time, something no one can remember a Florida legislator doing before.

Having an opponent in this year's race - one he doesn't have to worry about beating - will eliminate legal limits on campaigning that Ambler would face if he were unopposed. Running a high-profile campaign this year could boost his name recognition for the 2010 race.

In an interview, Ambler said that's not why he encouraged Ian Grossman, a Florida State University student and a neighbor and family friend of Ambler, to run against him as a write-in candidate.

Grossman, a political science major, wanted some real-life experience in politics, and asked him what it was like to be a candidate while their families were having Father's Day dinner together, Ambler said.

"I told him the only way to know what it's like to be a candidate is to be a candidate," Ambler said. "He wanted to be involved in a campaign; it would be a great learning experience."
Grossman didn't return calls this week for comment.

He filed on June 19, the day before the weeklong qualifying period ended, to run in Ambler's House District 47 in northwest Hillsborough County. No other candidates qualified.

As a write-in candidate, Grossman didn't have to pay a qualifying fee, and his name won't appear on the ballot.

Under state law, if Ambler had remained unopposed, he could have raised money only to pay bills incurred before the qualifying period, and for "thank you" ads to run for up to 75 days afterward, said elections law expert Mark Herron of Tallahassee.

After 90 days, he'd have to close his campaign accounts, refunding or donating to charity all unspent money. His name wouldn't appear on the ballot.

Now he can raise all the money he wants and spend it on advertising, which also could reach voters in state Senate District 12, where Ambler will be a candidate in 2010.

The Senate district, spanning the Hillsborough-Pasco border, partially overlaps Ambler's House district. Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, will leave the seat because of term limits in 2010.

Ambler can expect a tough primary in that race. County Commissioner Jim Norman also has begun a campaign for the seat.

Being able to run a campaign and appear on the 2008 ballot is "a tremendous benefit" for the 2010 race, said University of Central Florida political scientist Aubrey Jewett.

Incumbent state legislators often have low name recognition, particularly if they don't have to campaign actively, Jewett said.

"He'll be able to run ads and boost his name recognition. When voters go to the polls and see his name and get used to checking beside it, that's a plus as well."

Sam Rashid, a Hillsborough County businessman and political activist who backs Norman, agreed that will help Ambler. "This may be an unethical edge, but it's an edge," he said. "I can't throw stones at the guy. If this were a candidate I supported, I might consider it a very smart move."

Ambler, a lawyer, said that at the time he talked about the race with Grossman, there were reports that he might have opponents in this year's Republican primary, general election or both.

"We didn't know who was going to end up in the lineup on Friday," meaning the end of the qualifying period, he said. If he'd had another opponent, he noted, Grossman's filing "wouldn't have made any difference in the situation."

Ambler said he will run a campaign this year, but "not anywhere near what I did when I had an opponent. We're not pounding the decks as we have been in the past."

Asked whether he believes campaigning and having his name on the ballot this year will help him in 2010, he said, "I'm glad I'll have an opportunity to get my message out and talk about the good deeds we've done, and I'm glad my constituents will have an opportunity to see my name on the ballot and be able to know who represents them."

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761 or wmarch@tampatrib.com.

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